2025 Cadillac CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing Updated, the Latter Won't Be Available Too Long

GM wrapped 2023's American market sales with almost 2.6 million deliveries, followed by Toyota with a little over 2.24 million and Ford pushing out nearly 2 million units. Curiously, not all of them were crossovers, SUVs, and trucks.

As far as General Motors is concerned, one interesting case is Cadillac, whose global best-selling nameplate last year was the CT5 mid-size executive sedan. Sure, we can all imagine that only around 20% of its sales came from North America, and the rest was owed to China's appreciation for such traditional saloons. But that's enough to make GM confident enough to let Cadillac give the CT5 series the refresh it deserves instead of the axe or a ticket to the retirement asylum.

We have already seen the 2025 CT5, as the model is slated to succeed the 2024 CT5 (starting at $38,395), but we didn't know anything about the performance variants. That's one less thing to worry about now, as Cadillac has officially shared the first pictures and details of the 2025 CT5-V and the 2025 CT5-V Blackwing. However, there is good news and bad news to accompany the release.

For starters, the two performance sedans will debut soon – they are slated to arrive in front of the live audience at the Rolex 24 at Daytona race on January 27 and 28. Even better, the CT5-V Blackwing is slated to act as an Official Safety Car, while both can be admired in the Cadillac midway display at Daytona International Speedway.

Additionally, the Blackwing remains available with both the ten-speed automatic and the six-speed manual transmission, and both the CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing will be manufactured at GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly facility in Michigan starting this summer. Alas, the terrible news is that the Blackwing will be available in "extremely limited" quantities, as per a company footnote.

The mid-cycle refresh brings subtle design modifications to the front fascia, quad trapezoidal exhaust tips, three new colors (Drift Metallic, Deep Space Metallic, Typhoon Metallic), an updated Carbon Fiber Package for the Blackwing, a new 33-inch LED touchscreen display inside, a new in-vehicle Performance app, Super Cruise with new Driver Attention Assist feature, Google built-in technology, plus redesigned HVAC controls, among others.

Some things don't change – which is not necessarily a bad thing. The CT5-V remains equipped with the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 mill featuring 360 hp and 405 lb-ft sent to the rear or all four wheels through a ten-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the Blackwing also keeps the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 with 668 horsepower and 659 lb-ft sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or 10-speed auto. Both also feature standard Launch Control (with Line Lock for Blackwing), Magnetic Ride Control, and an electronically limited-slip differential.